Wire pay-off



y 8, 1963 P. S. MAGNA 3,091,415

WIRE PAY-OFF Filed March 7, 1961 INVENTOR PETER \S. MAGNA Alforney3,091,415 Patented May 28, 1963 ice 3,091,415 WIRE PAY-OFF Peter S.Magma, Pittsburg, Calif., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, acorporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 93,960 9 Claims.(Cl. 242-428) This invention relates to apparatus for withdrawing wirefrom coiled bundles and resides, more specifically, in improvements thatare directed to the problem of reducing work-stoppages caused byinterruptions in the wire pay-01f operation as the result of tangles,cobbles, and the like.

The pay-off of this invention is especially adapted for unreelingdead-cast wire of the type that is used as baling wire and in thefabrication of bale ties. Such wire is usually coiled by a dead-layprocess in a bundle on a vertical stem for transport to other processingapparatus such as a baling wire recoiler, a bale-tie forming machine,and the like. In processing apparatus of this character to the verticaltransport stem is frequently used as a part of the pay-off mechanism,and for this purpose is placed under a guide through which the wire isWithdrawn by the processing machinery. Conventional wire pay-offarrangements of this character are subject to cobbles and tangles thatstop the wire pay-off operation and frequently necessitate cutting thewire to remove the cobble or tangle and subsequent welding beforecontinuing the pay-off of wire. While special forms of pay-off reels,which frequently include rotating guides, have been proposed for thepurpose of eliminating work-stoppages of this character, the convenienceafforded by vertical transport stems has resulted in their continued useas part of the pay-off apparatus, and work-stoppages from cobbles andtangles continue to be a troublesome problem.

This invention accordingly has as one of its principal objects theelimination of tangle and cobble caused works-toppages in wire pay-offsof the type that include a conventional vertical transport stem as apart of the pay-off mechanism. For this purpose, the apparatus of thisinvention comprises a pair of upper and lower conical guides that aremounted in axially spaced and concentric positions between the upper endof a vertical stem and a wire-withdrawing mechanism that includes a wireguide spaced axially above in a centered position with respect to thestem upper end and through which the wire is withdrawn over a verticalpath. In a manner to be described the lower guide is a funnel-shapedconical hood that is mounted in an inverted position over a bundle ofcoiled wire on the vertical stem in such manner that its inner surfaceengages tangled convolutions lifted from the bundle, which are thenseparated by drawing the wire inwardly over the peripheral edge of anopening at the center of the hood, and the upper guide is a conicallyshaped expander that engages the wire convolutions moving upwardlythereover with an expanding action.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a wire pay-01f apparatus that has two pay-offsrespectively constructed in accordance with the principles of thisinvention and in which one of such pay ofis is shown in elevation andthe other is shown in vertical section; and

FIGURE 2 is a plan view on a slightly enlarged scale of one of thepay-offs shown in FIGURE 1 in which a fragmentary portion of its upperconical guide is broken away to show more clearly the construction ofits lower conical guide.

FIGURE 1 of the drawings shows the improvements of this invention in aconventional pay-off apparatus that operates to supply two strands ofwire W to wire processing apparatus such as, for example, a baling wirerecoiler or a machine for forming bale ties. The wire processingapparatus draws the strands W over pulleys 1 that are rotatably mountedon the outer ends of arms 2 carried by a supporting post 3, one of thestrands W moving over one of the pulleys 1 having its path of traveltherefrom directed by guides 4 mounted on the arms 2. The wire moving tothe pulleys 1 travels over a vertical path through guides '5 dependingfrom the outer ends of the arms 2, and is drawn upwardly from bundles 6of coiled wire that are supported on vertical transport stems 7. Each ofthe stems 7 comprises a cylindrical core 8 that extends vertically andaxially through the bundles 6 and has a circular platform 9 at its lowerend for supporting engagement with the lower end of the bundle 6. Thestems 7 are used to transport wire from drawing apparatus where it isdeposited on the platform 9 about the core 8 by a block or drum at theend of a wire drawing line. When used as a wire pay-off, each transportstem 7 is placed under a guide 5 in a centered position with the axis ofits core 8 aligned with the vertical path over which the wire W ispulled through the overlying guide 5. The apparatus thus far describedabove is conventional and forms no part per se of this invention, whichcomprises, in combination with such apparatus, a pair of upper and lowerconical guides 11 and 12 that are mounted in concentric and axiallyspaced positions between each wire guide 5 and the bundle 6 supported onan underlying stem 7.

As indicated, the pay-off of this invention is particularly adapted foruse with dead-cast wire of the type which is used in the manufacture ofbale ties and baling wire recoilers, and which is cast on the platform 9in convolutions having a diameter D as shown in FIGURE 1 of thedrawings.

The upper conical guide 11 is an expander that has a conically shapedexternal surface 13 of increasing diameter in an upward direction overwhich convolutions of wire travel and are expanded in moving from thebundles 6 to the guide 5. It has a cylindrical sleeve 14 at its lowerend which is telescoped in the upper end 15 of the core 8 and supportsit in a concentric and axially aligned position with respect to the axisof the stem 8. The diameter of its lower end 16 at the point where ithas initial engagement with the upwardly traveling convolutions of wireis slightly larger than the external diameter of the core 8, and thetaper and axial length of its conical surface 13 is such that its upperend 17 has a diameter that is the same as the diameter D of the wireconvolutions in the bundles 6.

The lower conical guide 12 is a funnel-shaped hood that is mounted in aninverted position below the expander 11 and over the bundle 6 on thestem 7. It is supported in a concentric position about the upper end 15of the stem core 8 by vertical supporting bars or legs 13, the upperends of which are removably clamped in tubes 19 secured to the hood 12by plates 20 that are welded to the upper surface of the hood 12. Itsconical inner surface 21 has a diameter that decreases in an upwarddirection from its lower end 22. Its upper end 23 has a diameter that islarger than the diameter of the cylindrical core 8 so that it cooperatestherewith to define an annular space 24 through which the convolutionsof wire travel to the upper conical guide or the expander 11. Its upperend 23 further acts as a guide ring for a purpose to be described andhas a diameter that is greater than the lower end 16 of the expander 11,but considerably less than the diameter of its upper end 17.

When the wire processing apparatus is operated to pull wire over theguide pulleys 1 and through the guides 5, the convolutions of wire inthe bundles 6 in traveling to the guides 5 move upwardly over the stemcore 8, through the annular space 24, and upwardly over the conicalsurface 13 of the expander 11. The convolutions of wire moving upwardlyover the cylindrical core 8 are stretched to a spiral shape as shown inthe drawings and to a diameter considerably less than the diameter D. Aseach convolution moves through the annular space 24 and upwardly overthe expander 11, the conical surface 13 operates to expand eachconvolution. The expanding action of the conical surface 13 on the wireoperates to hold the wire engaged with the inner surface of theperipheral edge or guide ring 23 at the upper end of the hood 12. Inthis manner, the action of the expander 11 operates to hold the portionof wire below the guide ring 23 out of engagement with the stem 8 and toprevent it from contracting into binding engagement therewith.

In the event that two or more convolutions of wire tangle and moveupwardly together from the bundles 6, they will engage with the conicalsurface 21 of the hood 12, and continued upward movement of the wire tothe guide will separate such tangle by drawing the wire radiallyinwardly over the hood surface 21 and then upwardly over the innersurface of the guide ring 23 to the conical expanding surface 13. Fromthe upper end 17 of the expander 11, the Wire is drawn radially inwardlyand upwardly to the wire guides 5. The point of engagement of the wirewith the upper end 17 of the expander 11 rotates continuously about thevertical axis of the apparatus as does the point at which the wireengages the guide ring 23.

As indicated above, the upper end 17 of the bonnet or expander 11 has adiameter that is the same as the diameter D of the wire convolutionsthat are cast on the stem 7. If the upper end 17 had a diameter lessthan the diameter D of the convolutions on the stem 7, thewire W wouldencircle the expander 11 more than once per convolution and wouldtherefore be twisted and form a loop that would tangle the wire. Thediameter of the guide ring 23 lies intermediate the diameter of theupper end 17 and lower end 16 of the expander 11, and must be smallerthan the diameter of the expander upper end 17 so that the expander 11will operate to maintain the wire engaged with the inner surface of theguide 23 and thus assure the passage of only one convolution of wirethrough the space 24 at any given time. By maintaining the wire engagedwith the inner surface of the guide 23 in this manner, the hood surface21 will operate to hold succeeding convolutions against movement throughthe space 24 where two or more convolutions are elevated at one timefrom the bundle 6. The axial lengths and tapers of the conical guides 11and 12 may be varied within limits determined by the vertical spacebetween the guide 5 and the upper end of the stem 7.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pay-off for withdrawing wire from a bundle of coiled wire supportedin a position with its axis extending vertically comprising afunnel-shaped conical hood mounted concentrically relative to saidbundle axis and in an inverted position over said bundle, and aconically shaped expander mounted concentrically relative to said axisin a position above said hood, said expander having a conically shapedouter surface of increasing diameter in an upward direction over whichconvolutions of wire being withdrawn from said bundle travel and areexpanded thereby, said hood having a conical inner surface of decreasingdiameter in an upward direction for engaging tangled convolutions ofwire elevated from said bundle and an inner peripheral edge defining acircular opening having a diameter intermediate the diameters of theupper and lower ends of said expander and through which the wire travelsduring upward movement thereof, the wire convolution expanding action ofsaid expander. operating 2. In a wire pay-01f, the combination with asupport for a bundle of coiled Wire including a vertical stem ex tendingaxially through said bundle and a platform at the lower end of saidstern for supporting engagement With the lower end of said bundle, andmeans for with-- drawing wire from the upper end of said bundleincluding a guide spaced vertically above the upper end of said stemthrough which the wire is withdrawn over a path extending axially andvertically with respect to said bundle, of a conically shaped expandermounted on the upper end of said stem, said expander having a conicalouter surface of increasing diameter in an upward direction over whichconvolutions of wire moving upwardly to said guide travel and areexpanded thereby, and a guide ring mounted concentrically relative tosaid stem axis in a position below said expander and defining an openingthrough which the wire travels from said bundle to said expander, saidguide ring having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of theupper end of said expander but greater than the diameter of its lowerend so that said expander operates to hold the wire being withdrawnthrough said ring in sliding engagement therewith.

3. In a wire pay-off, the combination with a support for a bundle ofcoiled wire including a vertical stem extending axially through saidbundle and a platform at the lower end of said stem for supportingengagement with the lower end of said bundle, and means for withdrawingwire from the upper end of said bundle including a guide; spacedvertically above the upper end of said stem through which the wire iswithdrawn over a path extending axially and vertically with respect tosaid bundle, of a guide ring mounted in a concentric position about theupper end of said stern and cooperating therewith to define an annularspace for the movement therethrough of the wire convolutions beingwithdrawn from said bundle, and a conically shaped expander mounted onthe upper end of said stem, said expander having a conically shapedouter surface of increasing diameter in an upward direction from theupper end of said stem and over which the wire convolutions movingthrough said space travel and are expanded thereby, said guide ringhaving a diameter intermediate the diameters of the upper and lower endsof said expander, the said expanding action of said expander operatingto hold the wire moving through said annular space in sliding engagementwith said guide ring.

4. In a wire pay-off as defined in claim 3, a funnelshaped conical hoodmounted concentrically in an inverted position about the upper end ofsaid stern, said guide ring forming the inner peripheral edge of saidhood.

5. A wire pay-off as defined in claim 3 characterized by the upper endof said expander having a diameter not substantially less than thediameter of the wire convolutions in said bundle.

6. A wire pay-off as defined in claim 5 characterized by the saidexpander upper end having an outer peripheral edge over which the wirehas sliding engagement and is drawn in a radially inward and upwarddirection to the said guide of said wire withdrawing means.

7. In a wire pay-0E, the combination with a vertical stem for supportinga bundle of coiled wire, and means including a guide positionedcentrally of and above said stem for withdrawing wire from said bundle,of a conically shaped expander mounted between said guide and said stemin a concentric position relative to the axis of said stem, saidexpander having a conical outer surface that increases in diameter in anupward direction and over which convolutions of wire travel and areexpanded in moving from said bundle to said guide, a guide ring mountedconcentrically relative to said stem axis in a position below saidexpander and defining an opening through which the wire travels fromsaid bundle to said expander, said guide ring having a diameter that issmaller than the cal diameter of the upper end of said expander butgreater than the diameter of its lower end so that said expanderoperates to hold wire being withdrawn through said ring in slidingengagement therewith.

8. A wire pay-oif as defined in claim 7 characterized by the upper endof said expander having a diameter not substantially less than thediameter of the wire convolutions in said bundle.

9. In a wire pay-0E, the combination with a vertical stern forsupporting a bundle of coiled wire, and means including a guidepositioned centrally of and above said stern for withdrawing wire fromsaid bundle, of a conically shaped expander mounted between said guideand said stem in a concentric position relative to the axis of saidstem, said expander having a conical outer surface 15 that increases indiameter in an upward direction and over which convolutions of wiretravel and are expanded in moving from said bundle to said guide, aninverted funnel-shaped conical hood mounted concentrically relative tosaid stem axis in a position below said expander, said hood having aninner peripheral edge defining a central opening through which the wiretravels from said bundle to said expander, said opening having adiameter greater than the lower end of said expander but less than thediameter of its upper end so that the expanding action of said expanderoperates to hold wire moving upwardly through said opening against saidhood peripheral edge, said hood having a conical inner surface thatdecreases in diameter in an upward direction for engaging and separatingtangled convolutions of wire elevated from said bundle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS315,707 Briggs Apr. 14, 1885 1,830,449 Swank Nov. 3, 1931 2,170,194Griggs Aug. 22, 1939 2,867,075 Reissrnuller Ian. 6, 1959

1. A PAY-OFF FOR WITHDRAWING WIRE FROM A BUNDLE OF COILED WIRE SUPPORTEDIN A POSITION WITH ITS AXIS EXTENDING VERTICALLY COMPRISING AFUNNEL-SHAPED CONICAL HOOD MOUNTED CONCENTRICALLY RELATIVE TO SAIDBUNDLE, AXIS AND IN AN INVERTED POSITION OVER SAID BUNDLE, AND ACONICALLY SHAPED EXPANDER MOUNTED CONCENTRICALLY RELATIVE TO SAID AXISIN A POSITION ABOVE SAID HOOD, SAID EXPANDER HAVING A CONICALLY SHAPEDOUTER SURFACE OF INCREASING DIAMETER IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION OVER WHICHCONVOLUTIONS OF THE WIRE BEING WITHDRAWN FROM SAID BUNDLE TRAVEL AND AREEXPANDED THEREBY, SAID HOOD HAVING A CONICAL INNER SURFACE OF DECREASINGDIAMETER IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION FOR ENGAGING TANGLED CONCOLUTIONS OFWIRE ELEVATED FROM SAID BUNDLE AND AN INNER PERIPHERAL EDGE DEFINING ACIRCULAR OPENING HAVING A DIEMETER INTERMEDIATE THE DIAMETERS OF THEUPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF SAID EXPANDER AND THROUGH WHICH THE WIRE TRAVELSDURING UPWARD MOVEMENT THEREOF, THE WIRE CONVOLUTION EXPANDING ACTION OFSAID EXPANDER OPERATING TO HOLD THE WIRE BEING WITHDRAWN FROM SAIDBUNDLE AGAINST SAID PERIPHERAL EDGE DURING ITS MOVEMENT THROUGH SAIDOPENING.